Using AirPort to Share an Internet Account


One of the easiest and best ways to share an Internet account is to use AirPort. In fact, using AirPort automatically enables you to share an Internet account among computers using an AirPort-compatible, wireless connection. You can also use an AirPort base station or an AirPort-equipped Mac to share an Internet connection with machines on a wired Ethernet network.

When you install and configure an AirPort hardware access point (also known as an AirPort base station), you can share the Internet account with which it is configured among AirPort-equipped Macs that can access that network. You can also share an Internet account among computers that are connected to the hardware access point via Ethernet. This is because the hardware access point is capable of acting as a DHCP server for the network and can provide that service to computers connected via AirPort and via Ethernet at the same time.

NOTE

Just because Windows computers don't call their wireless connections AirPort, that doesn't mean they can't share an Internet connection through an AirPort base station. They can, in fact, join an AirPort network as long as their wireless device supports the same protocol the AirPort network does. Because AirPort uses standard wireless protocols, in most cases PCs running Windows with wireless networking capabilities can also join AirPort networks.


When used with a broadband connection, an AirPort hardware access point also provides your network with basic firewall protection when you use NAT (which is explained later in this chapter). Because the only thing directly connected to the Internet is the base station itself, hackers can't see the computers that are connecting to the Net through the base station. They can see the base station, but because it isn't a computer, there isn't much they can do to it.

Because AirPort is easy to install, configure, and maintain and because you also get wireless access for AirPort-equipped devices, using AirPort is one of the best ways to share an Internet account.

To learn how to install, configure, and use an AirPort network to share an Internet connection, p. 371.


NOTE

An AirPort base station is also a great way to share a dial-up Internet connection. Because the modem (if you use a dial-up account) and software required to maintain the dial-up connection are part of the base station, this method doesn't place any processing burden on the Macs using the AirPort network. Of course, to share a dial-up connection, an AirPort base station must include a dial-up modem, which is an option on newer base stations.




Special Edition Using MAC OS X Tiger
Special Edition Using Mac OS X Tiger
ISBN: 0789733919
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 317
Authors: Brad Miser

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